Awards

Celebrating Our Achievements at Parochial

We are proud of the many awards and recognitions we’ve received as part of our journey to offer the best possible education, opportunities and values-led curriculum for our pupils. Here are some of our most recent and meaningful accomplishments:

 Global Neighbours – Bronze Award

Working towards Silver
We are proud to be recognised as Global Citizens, reflecting on local, national and international issues and taking meaningful action to help others.

Examples of our work include:

• Weekly Picture News reflections and discussions

• Letters to the Prime Minister about ocean plastic

• Fundraising for Ukraine through jewellery sales

• Campaigning about deforestation and littering

• Letters to supermarkets about plastic packaging

• Work with PCSOs on safe school parking

• Visits to Willow Wood Hospice and St Gabriel’s Place of Welcome

• Worship with St Michael’s Church

• Contributions to Infinity Initiatives’ food pantry and pay-what-you-can café

• Learning about courageous advocates like Malala and Greta Thunberg

We continue to act, reflect and grow — on our journey to achieving the Silver Award.

Silver Artsmark Award

We are delighted to have achieved the Silver Artsmark Award, recognising our commitment to a high-quality, creative arts curriculum. This national award celebrates how we provide opportunities for pupils to engage with the arts, from music and drama to dance, visual art, and performance.

It reflects:

• Our broad and balanced arts provision

• Strategic planning of the arts across the curriculum

• A strong culture of creativity and self-expression

• Opportunities to work with professional artists and explore diverse cultures

We are proud that the arts are flourishing at Parochial and are accessible to every child.

🎵 Music Mark School

We are proud to be a Music Mark School, recognised for our:

• Strong, inclusive music provision

• Commitment to music as part of a broad and balanced curriculum

• Development conversations and strategy around music

• Music for all pupils

  

 Reading Plus Awards – National Recognition for Parochial

In 2023, Parochial C of E Primary School was recognised nationally for its outstanding commitment to developing a love of reading across Key Stage 2.

Mrs Sells, our Key Stage 2 lead, won the prestigious Reading Plus Champion of the Year award, acknowledging the significant impact of her work in promoting reading progress, enthusiasm and success.

Runner-up – Most Words Read by a Pupil (KS2)

David Okwuaraba was awarded second place nationally after reading over 600,000 words using the Reading Plus programme.

“I didn’t have any idea that I would be nominated for a Reading Plus award. I feel happy, proud and excited about being a runner-up.” – David

Parochial was also shortlisted for Reading Plus School of the Year (KS2) – a testament to the collective efforts of staff and pupils to foster a strong reading culture throughout the school.

Our success was featured in the local press. Click the link below
Ashton School Celebrates Awards Success" – Tameside Reporter, August 2023

 Picture News Advocate School

We are proud to be a Picture News Advocate School, using the weekly primary packs to:

• Spark discussion on current affairs

• Strengthen understanding of British and Christian values

• Encourage thoughtful reflection during collective worship and lunchtime discussions

The display in the dining hall and weekly Picture News awards continue to engage children in real-world learning and moral thinking.  

SumDog Champions – Forward As One

We’ve proudly held the title of SumDog FAO Champions for:

• 🏆 2021

• 🏆 2022

• 🏆 2023

SumDog helps build fluency in maths  in a fun and engaging way.

Leading Parent Partnership Award

In 2023, we proudly achieved the Leading Parent Partnership Award. This nationally recognised award celebrates our commitment to working in close partnership with families to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and development.

The LPPA supports us to:

• Improve and strengthen communication between home and school

• Involve families in children’s learning and progress

• Promote excellent attendance, punctuality, and behaviour

• Offer a wide variety of workshops, events, and opportunities to take part in school life

Parents and carers are regularly welcomed into school through events such as Meet the Teacher, curriculum workshops, and classroom showcases. We’ve also introduced tools like Class Dojo and Tapestry to enhance home-school communication, and we continue to listen and respond to parent voice.

We are proud to be recognised as a school that values, includes, and celebrates our parent community.

Food for Life – Gold Award

We are delighted to have achieved the Food for Life Gold Award, celebrating our commitment to healthy eating, food education, and sustainable practices across school life.

This award recognises that:

• Our meals are freshly prepared, nutritious and locally sourced

• Children learn to grow food and understand where it comes from

• We involve pupils and parents in food choices

• We promote healthy lifestyles through cooking, gardening and community partnerships

Food is a key part of our values-led curriculum, supporting wellbeing, responsibility and care for the environment.